Instruments & Performance

Tablature

Japanese name
タブ譜

Tablature is notation that uses numbers to show which fret on which string to press on a guitar or bass.

How to use it

You can find positions on the fingerboard easily even if you cannot read standard notation, which helps when practicing riffs and solos.

How it differs from related terms

Tablature shows where to press, while standard notation shows pitch and duration in detail.

Check the rhythm as well as the notes, and practice along with the actual song.

Sources & review

Last reviewed July 16, 2026

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